MANILA, Philippines – Despite the
controversies that Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has
weathered through the years, Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. Chairman Antonio
“Tonyboy” Cojuangco affirmed that the eight-year-old event will go on.
“Cinemalaya will survive… It will live on in our budding and seasoned
filmmakers, in our audience and in all those who have been exposed to
Cinemalaya – its experience in one form or another this past eight
years. The Cinemalaya spirit will invade the local film industry, the
homes and media devices of our audience, and the Internet,” Cojuangco
said in his speech during the festival’s awards ceremony held at the
Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Sunday night.
This came with his announcement that the foundation “[will] be
inviting four to five of this year’s filmmakers to enter their films in
the Rome Film Festival this November.
“Cinemalaya has agreed to foot travel expense as the Rome Film
Festival will graciously take care of board and lodging,” he added.
Still on a positive note, Cojuangco stated, “We will dream
Cinemalaya. The world will dream Cinemalaya. We all will live
Cinemalaya. Mabuhay ang Cinemalaya.”Winners
Mes de Guzman’s “Diablo” and Jose Javier Reyes’ “Mga Mumunting Lihim”
under the New Breed and Directors Showcase categories, respectively,
are this year's biggest winners with four Balanghai trophies each.
“Mga Mumunting Lihim,” Reyes’ independent film debut, won Best
Editing, Best Screenplay, and both the Best Supporting Actress and Best
Actress nods for the ensemble cast composed of Judy Ann Santos, Agot
Isidro, Janice de Belen and Iza Calzado. On the other hand, “Diablo”
clinched the Best Cinematography, Best Actress, Best Director and Best
Film awards. It was also hailed one of the two NETPAC awardees this
year, along with Jun Robles Lana's entry, "Bwakaw" which was part of the
Directors Showcase category.
Still under the Director’s Showcase, “Mga Mumunting Lihim” is
followed by Raymond Red’s “Kamera Obskura” and Adolfo Alix Jr.’s
“Kalayaan” with three awards apiece. “Kamera Obskura” took home the
Balanghai trophies for Special Jury Prize, Best Original Musical Score
and Best Director; while the other received those for Best Sound, Best
Production Design and Best Cinematography.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Fajardo’s “Posas” received the honors for Best
Supporting Actor and Best Film. Apart from the NETPAC award, “Bwakaw”
also received the trophy for Best Actor, and was hailed the Audience’s
Choice under this category.
As for the New Breed, Loy Arcena’s “Requieme!” and Lem Lorca’s “Intoy
Syokoy ng Kalye Marino” comes after “Diablo” with two awards each.
These are Best Screenplay and the Special Jury Prize; and Best
Production Design and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.
Vincent Sandoval’s “Aparisyon,” Gino Santos’ “The Animals,” Emmanuel
Quindo Palo’s “Sta. Nina,” Paul Sta. Ana’s “Oros” and Marie Jamora’s
“Ang Nawawala” was given a Balanghai each for Best Sound, Best Editing,
Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor and Best Original Musical Score,
respectively. Jamora’s entry was also named the New Breed Audience’s
Choice.
Conversely, Jarell Serencio won Best Film under the Short Feature
category, while Sheron Dayoc was hailed Best Director for “As He
Sleeps.” Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s “Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong” and
Richard Legaspi’s “Manenaya” also got a Balanghai for Best Screenplay
and the Special Jury Prize, respectively. Hannah Espia’s “Ruweda” was
hailed the Short Feature Audience’s Choice.
In all, there were 25 competing films this year: five under the
Directors Showcase category, 10 under Short Films category and 10 under
the New Breed category. All the winners received the coveted Balanghai
trophies and cash prizes.
Below is the complete list of the 8th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival winners:Short Feature
Audience’s Choice: “Ruweda,” Hannah Espia
Best Screenplay: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (“Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong”)
Special Jury Prize: “Manenaya,” Richard Legaspi
Best Director: Sheron Dayoc (“As He Sleeps”)
Best Film: “Victor,” Jarell SerencioDirectors Showcase
Audience’s Choice: “Bwakaw,” Jun Robles Lana
Special Jury Prize: “Kamera Obskura,” Raymond Red
Best Sound: Ditoy Aguila (“Kalayaan”)
Best Original Musical Score: Diwa de Leon (“Kamera Obskura”)
Best Editing: Vanessa de Leon (“Mga Mumunting Lihim”)
Best Production Design: Adolfo Alix Jr. (“Kalayaan”)
Best Cinematography: Albert Banzon (“Kalayaan”)
Best Screenplay: Jose Javier Reyes (“Mga Mumunting Lihim”)
Best Supporting Performance of an Actor: Art Acuna (“Posas”)
Best Supporting Performance of an Actress: Judy Ann Santos, Agot Isidro, Janice de Belen and Iza Calzado (“Mga Mumunting Lihim”)
Best Performance of an Actor: Eddie Garcia (“Bwakaw”)
Best Performance of an Actress: Judy Ann Santos, Agot Isidro, Janice de Belen and Iza Calzado (“Mga Mumunting Lihim”)
Best Director: Raymond Red (“Kamera Obskura”)
Best Film: “Posas,” Lawrence FajardoFull Length Feature Film New Breed
Audience’s Choice: “Ang Nawawala,” Marie Jamora
Best Sound: Mike Idioma and Addis Tabong (“Aparisyon”)
Best Original Musical Score: Mikey Amistoso, Diego Mapa and Jazz Nicolas (“Ang Nawawala”)
Best Editing: John Wong and Rona delos Reyes (“The Animals”)
Best Production Design: Benjamin Payumo (“Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino”)
Best Cinematography: Tristan Salas (“Diablo”)
Best Screenplay: Rody Vera (“REquieme!”)
Best Supporting Performance of an Actor: Joross Gamboa (“Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino”)
Best Supporting Performance of an Actress: Anita Linda (“Sta. Nina”)
Best Performance of an Actor: Kristoffer King (“Oros”)
Best Performance of an Actress: Ama Quiambao (“Diablo”)
Special Jury Prize: “REquieme!” Loy Arcenas
Best Director: Mes de Guzman (“Diablo”)
Best Film: “Diablo,” Mes de GuzmanNetwork for Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) Award
Director’s Showcase: “Bwakaw,” Jun Robles Lana
Full Length Feature Film New Breed: “Diablo,” Mes de Guzman